Head of Learning Support
The City of Liverpool College
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The City of Liverpool College in Liverpool is seeking a Head of Learning Support to lead and evaluate SEND practice, ensuring learners with additional needs are supported to achieve their full potential.
You will oversee Disability Support and Dyslexia teams, manage EHCP processes, and drive inclusive pedagogy across departments while delivering CPD and maintaining compliance with safeguarding and regulatory standards.
Qualifications
- Degree level and teaching qualification are essential.
- Experience delivering CPD to teaching staff is required.
- Experience with Educational Health & Care Plans and EHCP funding methods.
- Timetabling and management of learning support services.
- Up-to-date safeguarding knowledge is essential.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop SEND practice across the college.
- Oversee Disability Support Team and Dyslexia Support staff.
- Ensure EHCP processes are correctly applied and reviewed.
- Provide CPD and staff development to deliver inclusive pedagogy.
- Produce performance reports and liaise with stakeholders.
Skills
Education
Job description
Salary: £59,043 per year
Job Type: 35 hours per week, Permanent
To take the lead in developing and evaluating SEND practice in the College ensuring learners who are identified as having additional needs are supported appropriately and succeed in their education. Ensure provision within the College meets the requirements of the SEND Code of Practice. Ensure the College receives appropriate funding for learners with additional needs
9 September 2026
Learning Support
Liverpool
£59,043 / year
- Contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College ensuring their effective implementation in all aspects of College life.
- Assist the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing in managing and overseeing all aspects of an effective and efficient additional learning support department.
- Assist the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing in promoting the service across the College and to develop a disability friendly culture.
- Have a thorough understanding of SEND and related issues and practices and demonstrate expertise by overseeing and developing these within the teams.
- Is fully up to date with the College’s responsibilities in line with SEN Code of Practice, Children and Families Act 2014 and any other relevant legislation.
- Is well versed with the latest OFSTED criteria around Inspections (SEND in particular).
- Keep themselves up to date with the latest developments in the SEND field (e.g., SEND Green Paper) and prepare the College for the upcoming changes.
- Undertake line management responsibilities for Disability Support Team Leader, Learning Support Specialists, the Dyslexia Support team and other key staff within the department supporting their development and setting clear expectations and targets through appraisal.
- Carry out Exam Access Arrangement Assessment as and when required.
- Ensure that all students with identified support needs, High Needs students, those with EHCPs are appropriately assessed and supported.
- Understanding of EHCP application process and experience of applying for and reviewing EHCPs.
- Plan and provide appropriate CPD and ongoing support to teachers, teaching managers and support staff to enable the development of a broad and ambitious curriculum and effective pedagogy that will assist staff to use differentiated and inclusive approaches.
- Ensure that teaching and support teams are up to date with current legislation and the latest practice in supporting students, including the use of assistive technologies and that staff meet regularly to share best practice and learn from each other.
- Evaluate the impact of inclusive teaching and support staff to improve practice.
- Ensure all staff are kept up to date with teaching and learning strategies that promote effective inclusive practice.
- Take part in quality cycle processes, identifying areas of weakness and implementing changes to improve them.
- Oversee the effective initial screening and in-depth assessment of students with specific needs, streamlining processes to ensure that students are quickly engaged and supported and maximising the efficient use of available resources. Liaise with managers and progress teams to identify and address areas of concern regarding students’ pastoral and academic needs.
- Ensure that individual support plans and care plans are maintained, regularly updated, and shared with curriculum areas through College systems.
- Ensure that classroom teachers and their managers are fully aware of the support provided to their students, including those with an EHCP, and that they are fully equipped and supported to meet their specific learning needs.
- Ensure the efficient action planning, review, tracking, monitoring, and recording of students’ support to promote high levels of student achievement and progression.
- Investigate and apply creative solutions (based upon established theory and practice) within the support service delivery to meet the growing demand efficiently and effectively.
- Produce accurate and timely performance reports on key activities within the department and take appropriate action where necessary.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to secure and maintain successful relationships, including, for example, parents, local authorities, professional bodies, universities, schools, and employers.
- Support cross-College activities (open evenings, departmental meetings, parents' evenings, whole College training events), the key enrolment and invigilation periods.
- Contribute to and develop a positive and supportive culture for all staff and learners, working towards the highest standards and driving aspiration for all staff and learners, advising on target setting for learners with ALS
- Support the College Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, Inclusive Learning and Safeguarding policies, processes, arrangements, and objectives.
- Take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development, Health & Safety, and meeting other regulatory compliances (e.g. GDPR, DPA, Safeguarding), thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be always observed.
- Carry out any other relevant and appropriate duties as determined by the needs of the service and as appropriate to the grade.
- Educated to degree level
- Recognised teaching qualification
- Significant teaching experience and arranging exam support for learners with additional needs
- Recognised qualification(s) in learning support
- Level 7 qualification in Access arrangements
- Proven experience of managing learning support services including timetabling to support the needs of leaners.
- Experience of applying for and reviewing Educational Health & Care Plan and in-depth knowledge of High Needs funding methodologies
- A working knowledge of Safeguarding procedures, supporting Safeguarding teams and experience of managing support for learners with mental health needs
- Proven experience of liaising with and developing positive, collaborative working relationships with teaching teams, parents, outside agencies and local authorities
- Knowledge of research in this area and ability to creatively apply theory to enhance support to students with learning disabilities and/or difficulties including implementing assistive technologies
- Proven ability to design/deliver appropriate CPD to support staff and teachers.
- Up to date knowledge of all legislative requirements.
- Experience of liaising with outside agencies, parents and local authorities.
- Committed to the achievement and success of learners
- Resilient, emotionally intelligent and approachable
- Skilled communicator and negotiator with experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
- Excellent organisational and record keeping skills supported by high levels of computer literacy
- Ability to manage to tight deadlines and conflicting priorities
- Membership of a relevant professional body
- Knowledge of safeguarding, equality and diversity, inclusivity and health and safety
This role may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive sufficient applications. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
You'll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 20.20%, one of the best pension packages in the sector.
Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 wellbeing day. You’ll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
As part of your role, you’ll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings. You’ll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets, fashion and lifestyle retailers, tech stores, travel providers, and more. You’ll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme, cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts, with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life – and beyond.
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, looking for advice, or simply need someone to talk to, Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured, you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline, face to face, online or telephone counselling, as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationships, bereavement, legal and financial concerns.
You’ll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, a secure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules as well as daily wellbeing tips.
You’ll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers, which covers a full eye exam (worth up to £25) and even includes £45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
We offer interest‑free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months' free travel—without having to cover the full cost upfront. It’s all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.
We’re passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
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